Gingrich Facing Conservative Wrath For “Humane” Policy On Immigration

During the debate, Gingrich said: “I do not believe that the people of the United States are going to take people who’ve been here for a quarter of a century … [and] separate them from their families and expel them.”

He added: “I don’t believe that the party that says it’s the party of the family is going to say it’s going to destroy families that have been here for more than a quarter of a century. I’m prepared to take the heat in saying: ‘Let’s be humane in enforcing the law.'”

His Republican rivals, mainly Romney, Bachmann and Santorum, jumped on the remark, describing it as a mistake. They described Gingrich’s plan as amounting to amnesty, that crime should not be rewarded and that the priority should be securing the border.